The Melbourne Cup always approaches fast, with the race commencing at 3pm, Tuesday 6 November. The race that stops a nation is more exciting than ever this year, with a number of celebrations taking place both inside and outside the racecourse. While the $6.175 million Emirates Melbourne Cup is the centrepiece of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, there are plenty of additional races and social events to keep everyone busy.

There are a total of ten races taking place throughout the day, with varying race distances and prize values on offer. While the 3200 metre Emirates Melbourne Cup is by far the longest, most valuable, and most prestigious event, the entire Melbourne Cup day spectacle is organised as a complete and enthralling package.

Everyone knows just how much people enjoy getting dressed up and having a bet for this special day, with women wearing their most extravagant hats and most colourful dresses. A number of marquees are set up for VIP guests, with fashion parades and other entertainment also taking place throughout the day. Corporate marquee and dining packages are already available for bookings, with shared marquees also available for hire.

A General Admission Season Pass is being offered this year for the 2012/13 racing season, permitting access to general admission areas of all VRC race meetings, including the Melbourne Cup Carnival. This pass is being sold for $200, with a total value of $564. There are a range of other ticketing options available to choose from, including general admission, reserved grandstand seating, corporate dining, restaurant dining, and a variety of members options.

The Melbourne Cup truly is the richest prize in Australian sport, contested by horses from all over the world. It is amazing when you think that Australia stops to a standstill to listen to and watch the big event, with a 100,000 plus crowd also expected to witness the race live.

It’s not all about the racing however, with a wide range of fashion, dining, and entertainment also on offer. The Flemington Racecourse will come alive again this November with fashion shows, music, and the best selections of food and beverages that money can buy.

Melbourne Cup 2012

The Melbourne Cup this year will be run on November 6th 2012 which is the first Tuesday in November. The race will be run at Flemington racecourse and the start time for the race is at 3pm. The final field for the Melbourne Cup 2012 will be decided on Saturday 3rd November after the running of the Lexus Stakes which will decide the last remaining spot in the 2012 Melbourne Cup. We provide as much infromation about the Melbourne Cup as we can below covering a wide range of topics regarding the Melbourne Cup 2012 including how to get to Flemington on Cup day Melbourne Cup Travel.

Melbourne Cup results

Out of the twenty four runners in the Melbourne Cup Field there is prize money for the first ten horses to cross the finish line in a race with a total prize pool of $6million dollars. View the amounts given to each position on our Melbourne Cup prizemoney page.

We have also compiled replays of the last five Melbourne Cup’s including last years edition in which international runner Dunaden won. View our Melbourne Cup replays.

The last two Melbourne Cups have been won by French horses which is seen to have increased the amount of international runners heading to Australia during the Spring to tackle the race.

Melbourne Cup betting

The Melbourne Cup is the biggest race in Australia both for viewer count and for betting turnover. Host by the Victoria Racing Club the Melbourne Cup last year had a turnover of around $80 million dollars with the TAB alone. If you are thinking about having a bet on the Melbourne Cup than we advise you view our Melbourne Cup betting page to get information on the different bet types.

Melbourne Cup odds

Melbourne Cup odds basically goes hand in hand with Melbourne Cup betting although there are some small differences. The term betting refers to the overall market in a race where as the term ‘odds’ refers to each of the Melbourne Cup horses individual price when betting. Each horse in the Melbourne Cup will have different odds, the horse with the lowest odds is believed to be the race favourite. Odds are determined by whom the bookmaker feels has the best chance of winning and betting moves from punters. Often horses will open up at a certain price and either get backed into lower odds or drift to higher odds.

To find out more on Melbourne Cup odds view our page which helps to explain the intricate details.

Melbourne Cup tips

Melbourne Cup is the largest betting event in Australia each year and it’s common for work and family banter to be around who their Melbourne Cup Tip is. As we dont know the official field for the race we cannot give any tips as of yet but we can provide the best methods for you to select you own tips. So view our Melbourne Cup Tips page to find out more.

Flemington racecourse

The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington racecourse and has so since its inaugural year in 1864. The Circumference of the racecourse is 2,312 metres. The racecourse and surrounding areas is a total of 1.27km.

Melbourne Cup day

Melbourne Cup day is always on the first Tuesday in November every year. The Melbourne Cup meeting consists of ten races all together with the Cup always being the seventh race of the day at a time slot of 3pm. It is accustom for most businesses and schools to stop work at this time to tune into their tv’s or radios to listen to the race which has been branded ‘the race that stops a nation’.

Melbourne Cup field

Each year hundreds of horses are nominated by their connections for the Melbourne Cup. Leading up to the race there are different levels of acceptances which connections need to pay a fee to continue with their quest to make the Melbourne Cup Field. The field is determined by horses who have won Group races worldwide over the distance of 2400m+ which has caused some debate to the ease of some international runners making the field. There are currently 67 horses still nominated for the race you can view them on our Melbourne Cup nominations page.

Melbourne Cup fashion

The Melbourne Cup Carnival isn’t all about the horses. A lot of racegoers head to Flemington each year simply for the fashion that is on showcase whether that be Women or Mens fashion with the latter becoming more competitive each year in what use to be a Female dominated focus until recent years. We take a look at the Melbourne Cup Fashion on our fashion page.

Melbourne Cup barrier draw

The Melbourne Cup barrier draw takes place on Victoria Derby day which this year is the 3rd of November. The Lexus Stakes run on Derby day is the last race in which Melbourne Cup hopefuls can get a spot in the final field thus the barrier draw must commence after this time. It is accustom that the VRC announces the final Melbourne Cup field and barriers at 5.30pm.

Melbourne Cup order of entry

The Melbourne Cup attracts hundreds of nominations each year but the final field is only twenty four runners meaning a majority of nominated horses wont get a start in the race. We take a look at this years current Melbourne Cup order of entry. At the moment there are fourty six horses left in the nominations but only about four or five horses who could get a start in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup. We also explain the Melbourne Cup balloting system.

Melbourne Cup Sweep

Each year thousands of people across Australia will take part in a Melbourne Cup Sweep which provides a cheap fun way to experience ‘the race that stops a nation’. We provide some information on what a sweep is and how you can organise one for your office. It’s simple to do, fun and exciting so be sure to take part in a Melbourne Cup Sweep this year!

Melbourne Cup International runners

The Melbourne Cup is the most watched horse race in Australian racing, contested by three year old horses and above over a distance of 3200 metres. The Melbourne Cup is held annually at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November, and has become known as “the race that stops a nation”. Throughout its long history that stretches back to 1861, a number of international horses have won this prestigious event.